# Daniel Bernhardt
**Daniel Bernhardt** (born 1965) is a Swiss actor, stuntman, martial artist, and former model known for playing Agent Johnson in *The Matrix Reloaded* (2003) and *The Matrix Resurrections* (2021), Kirill in *John Wick* (2014), and the title role in the *[Deathstalker](https://www.edgepedia.org/deathstalker-2025-film)* reboot (2025).[1](https://www.cinema.be/en/personen/daniel-bernhardt-9452) He made his acting debut in the leading role of the martial arts film *Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite* (1996) after producer Marc Di Salle, who had launched [Jean-Claude Van Damme](https://www.edgepedia.org/jean-claude-van-damme)'s career with *Bloodsport* and *Kickboxer*, cast him as the sequel's new star.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076780/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965 in Worblaufen, Bern, Switzerland[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076780) |
| Screen debut | Lead role as Alex Cardo in *Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite* (1996), opposite Pat Morita, James Hong, Donald Gibb, and taekwondo champion Philip Tan[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076780) |
| Signature roles | Agent Johnson in *The Matrix Reloaded* (2003) and *The Matrix Resurrections* (2021); Kirill in *John Wick* (2014)[1](https://www.cinema.be/en/personen/daniel-bernhardt-9452) |
| Martial arts | Began with kung fu at age 15; taekwondo black belt under Grandmaster Hee Il Cho, who became his mentor[3](https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-daniel-bernhardt/) |
| Stunt career | Fight choreographer on *Creed II* (2018) and *Nobody* (2021); stunt performer on *Deadpool 2* (2018), *Alita: Battle Angel* (2019), and other blockbusters[1](https://www.cinema.be/en/personen/daniel-bernhardt-9452) |
| Recent lead | Title role in *Deathstalker* (2025), Steven Kostanski's reboot of the sword-and-sorcery franchise[4](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/feature/2025-10-08-interview-with-daniel-bernhardt-about-deathstalker-feature-story-by-jennie-kermode) |
## Early life and martial arts
Bernhardt was born in Worblaufen in the canton of Bern, Switzerland.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076780) After finishing high school he studied architectural design for four years and graduated in Bern, and at the same time opened a martial arts school with his brother.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076780) In interviews he dates his training to age 15, when a friend introduced him to kung fu; he went on to kickboxing, boxing, and taekwondo.[3](https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-daniel-bernhardt/) After moving to Los Angeles he trained under Grandmaster Hee Il Cho, a taekwondo master who appeared alongside him in *Bloodsport II* and remained his mentor.[3](https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-daniel-bernhardt/)
## Modeling and entry into film
After completing his studies Bernhardt moved to Paris and worked as a fashion model for designers including Montana, Mugler, Boss, Cerruti, and Versace, appearing in magazines such as *Vogue*, *Elle*, *Max*, *Interview*, and *Cosmopolitan* before establishing himself as an international top model.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076780) He then moved to New York, where he was cast to co-star with Jean-Claude Van Damme in "Looking for Kicks", Bruce Weber's television spot for [Gianni Versace](https://www.edgepedia.org/gianni-versace); he was chosen because the production wanted a model with a martial arts background, and he performed a fight scene with Van Damme.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076780)
The commercial led to his film break. Producer Marc Di Salle cast him to star in *[Bloodsport](https://www.edgepedia.org/bloodsport-film) II: The Next Kumite* (1996), a sequel to Van Damme's 1988 film, with [Pat Morita](https://www.edgepedia.org/pat-morita), James Hong, Donald Gibb, and Philip Tan.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076780) Bernhardt has said the shoot in Bangkok, Thailand, was a trial by fire: the production was delayed, he tore his floating ribs, and he suffered food poisoning, but he considers the film the break that made his career.[3](https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-daniel-bernhardt/)
## The Bloodsport sequels and 1990s work
Bernhardt reprised Alex Cardo in *Bloodsport III* (1997), again appearing with Morita and Hong.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076780) In *Bloodsport 4: The Dark Kumite* (1999) he played a different character, [John Keller](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-keller).[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/daniel_bernhardt) The Spanish film press later described him as probably the biggest success story to come out of the wave of direct-to-video Van Damme sequel substitutes.[6](https://as.com/meristation/cine/ni-bruce-lee-ni-chuck-norris-van-damme-es-el-actor-de-cine-de-accion-con-mas-secuelas-en-las-que-no-participo-n/)
He spent the rest of the 1990s in similar straight-to-video action productions, including *Future War* (1997), *True Vengeance*, *Perfect Target*, and *Black Sea Raid* (1997).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076780) He also took a regular part as Siro in *Mortal Kombat: Conquest*, the television series based on the video game, which ran from 1998 to 1999.[1](https://www.cinema.be/en/personen/daniel-bernhardt-9452)
## The Matrix and its aftermath
In *The Matrix Reloaded* (2003) Bernhardt played Agent Johnson, the leader of an upgraded generation of Agents.[1](https://www.cinema.be/en/personen/daniel-bernhardt-9452) According to Bernhardt, Chad Stahelski, who was doubling [Keanu Reeves](https://www.edgepedia.org/keanu-reeves) and had been his friend since the *Bloodsport* films, called him to say the production was looking for Agents; he then auditioned for fight choreographer [Yuen Woo-ping](https://www.edgepedia.org/yuen-woo-ping), who had final say because every Agent had to fight Keanu Reeves.[3](https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-daniel-bernhardt/) His fight scene with [Laurence Fishburne](https://www.edgepedia.org/laurence-fishburne) on a large truck is one of the film's set pieces, and he later voiced Agent Johnson in the *Enter the Matrix* video game.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076780) He compared the production's scale with his early work: the film cost $150 million, whereas on *Bloodsport* "we had nothing, we just did everything practical"; he spent six months on the shoot over a year and a half.[3](https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-daniel-bernhardt/) The film vaulted him into more substantial roles than his early career had offered.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/daniel_bernhardt)
He married Lisa Stothard, and their first daughter was born in 2003, the night after *The Matrix Reloaded*'s premiere.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076780)
## Stunt work and the 87Eleven circle
Bernhardt's connection to the stunt group 87Eleven Action Design, founded by [Chad Stahelski](https://www.edgepedia.org/chad-stahelski) and [David Leitch](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-leitch), placed him at the center of modern American action filmmaking.[3](https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-daniel-bernhardt/) His stunt and fight-choreography credits include *Creed II* (2018) and *Nobody* (2021), and as a stunt performer he worked on *A Good Day to Die Hard* (2013), *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* (2014), *Captain America: Civil War* (2016), *Deadpool 2* (2018), *Alita: Battle Angel* (2019), *Hobbs & Shaw* (2019), and *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* (2023).[1](https://www.cinema.be/en/personen/daniel-bernhardt-9452) For *Nobody*, star [Bob Odenkirk](https://www.edgepedia.org/bob-odenkirk) trained with him for two years, calling him "maybe the best stunt actor alive in the world right now".[7](https://www.cuindependent.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CUImagfall2021.pdf) Bernhardt has described himself as an "action actor" rather than a martial artist who acts, and has said he does his own stunts.[8](https://moviemavericks.com/2010/11/interview-daniel-bernhardt/)
This circle also produced his best-known acting roles of the 2010s: Stahelski directed him as the henchman Kirill in *John Wick* (2014), where he again faced Keanu Reeves, and Leitch cast him as a Soldier in *Atomic Blonde* (2017), in a memorable fight opposite [Charlize Theron](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlize-theron).[1](https://www.cinema.be/en/personen/daniel-bernhardt-9452) Other villainous parts include Kroll fighting [Jason Statham](https://www.edgepedia.org/jason-statham) in *Parker* (2013), the cyborg Bone Breaker in *Logan* (2017), and Radovan Brokowski opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in *Kill 'Em All* (2017).[1](https://www.cinema.be/en/personen/daniel-bernhardt-9452)
## Later career
Bernhardt reprised Agent Johnson in *The Matrix Resurrections* (2021).[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/daniel_bernhardt) His later credits include Konstantine in *Extraction 2* (2023), roles in *The Killer's Game* and *Chief of Station* (both 2024), and the *John Wick* spin-off *Ballerina* (2025) as the Scarred Eye Assassin.[1](https://www.cinema.be/en/personen/daniel-bernhardt-9452) In 2025 he took the title role in *Deathstalker*, Steven Kostanski's reboot of the 1983 [Roger Corman](https://www.edgepedia.org/roger-corman)-produced sword-and-sorcery film, premiering at the Locarno Film Festival and released in the United States on October 10, 2025.[4](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/feature/2025-10-08-interview-with-daniel-bernhardt-about-deathstalker-feature-story-by-jennie-kermode) For the role he trained sword fighting with two Shaolin monks from 87Eleven and fought costumed performers rather than CGI creatures, an approach he praised.[4](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/feature/2025-10-08-interview-with-daniel-bernhardt-about-deathstalker-feature-story-by-jennie-kermode) Upcoming roles include Koniev in *Man of War* (2026) and Falko in *Matchbox: The Movie* (2026).[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/daniel_bernhardt)
## References
1. [Daniel Bernhardt, Cinema.be](https://www.cinema.be/en/personen/daniel-bernhardt-9452)
2. [Daniel Bernhardt, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076780/)
3. [Interview with Daniel Bernhardt, Kung-fu Kingdom (2020)](https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-daniel-bernhardt/)
4. [Interview with Daniel Bernhardt about Deathstalker, Eye For Film (2025)](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/feature/2025-10-08-interview-with-daniel-bernhardt-about-deathstalker-feature-story-by-jennie-kermode)
5. [Daniel Bernhardt, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/daniel_bernhardt)
6. [Ni Bruce Lee ni Chuck Norris: Van Damme es el actor de cine de acción con más secuelas en las que no participó, AS (2025)](https://as.com/meristation/cine/ni-bruce-lee-ni-chuck-norris-van-damme-es-el-actor-de-cine-de-accion-con-mas-secuelas-en-las-que-no-participo-n/)
7. [CU Independent, Fall 2021 print edition](https://www.cuindependent.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CUImagfall2021.pdf)
8. [Interview: Daniel Bernhardt, Movie Mavericks (2010)](https://moviemavericks.com/2010/11/interview-daniel-bernhardt/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Surnames symbols to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license